Massaging roller



- Feb. 8, 1949 1....1'. DIRAND v 2,461,413

MAS SAGING ROLLER Filed July 18, 1946 15 [/6 20 /5 f m l/ v I IN VEN TOR.

circulation. Incarrvlng out the present invention the insideofthe massaging roller is made to contain all Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATESVPATENT OFFICE MAssAefi: 1:01am 7 Louis J. Dirand, New EYOIkyN. Y.,' assignor of one-half to Irwin F. Mills.

ApplicationJuly18, 1946, Serial No. 684,425

This invention relates to improvements in massaging rollers.

One of the objects thereof is to provide asimple, efiicient, and inexpensive massaging roller for the purpose of efiecting a better kneading action of the roller upon the tissues of the body over which it is used.

Various devices have been manufactured in the field of massage rollers and many of them have been fabricated with a view of affording increased bearing or rolling surface, more powerful massaging action, and capability of flexing out of the linear disposition over protruding portions of the human anatomy. However, previous efiorts have not resulted in providing a massage roller. with an equalizing resilient action on allpoints of the roller where such action is desired.

The characteristics of the present massage roller are such that the roller is made to have an eccentric movement or rolling action with respect to the shaft which constitutes its aXis of rotation,. such eccentric rolling action being spring cushioned.

Another object of the'present invention is to provide a massaging roller characterized by the fact that it is normally mounted concentrically upon an operating shaft which carries two han-.

dles for rolling it at opposite ends thereof. The

massaging roller, however, is journaled upon the operating shaft through intervention of circular resilient bodies which act as yieldable cushions therefor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel form of massaging roller which may not only be rolled upon the part to be massaged but spring tension followed by resiliently jumping back or retracting itself. This has a correspond ingly wholesome effect in that the tissue thus kneaded responds to alternate pressure and. relaxation. It is this which stimulates proper blood 16 Claims. (01.- 128-57) parts which are directly subject to spring tension and resilient manipulation. The roller proper is a stout, strong rubberlined body but the handle shaft for revolving it has a floating sprong hearing inside of the roller so while the roller turns the handle may be moved yieldably to resiliently press the roller against the surface being massaged and to relax pressure thereupon alternately. V With'the above and other objects in View my invention consists in thecombination, arrange! ment and details. of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views, T

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a spool employed in my invention,

Figure 3 is afront elevation of said spool. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of a cage housing said spool.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken through my invention shown in Figure 1, illustrating how the circular sprin is housed, and.

Figure 6 is a planview of the massaging roller.

Referring to the drawings, which are-merely illustrative" of my invention, all the details thereof are made to appear. The figure Ill desig nates a hollow cylinder roller or cylinder, preferably a metal or plastic shell, the hollow interior of which is designated H. 'A series of similarly constructed cages are employed in this roller cylinder, broadly designated l2. 'The spool therein will first be described. v

Each spool is made'preferably' out of plasti one: end of the hub. That portion of the hub which projects beyond "the nearest flange i1 is" designated 24. The device is a strong, substan-- tial body. v

In Figurei is illustrated the cage proper. It may also be made from plastic, metal or other suitable material. The cage consists of two telescopically interfitted cap members, the rims of the respectively outer and inner of which are designated- 29, 23, while the opposing sidesof these caps, which are parallel, are designated 18 and H. 11: will be seenthat the rims 20, 23 of Upon the the telescoping cap members register slidably if desired. Together they provide an annular closed body, or casing, with centrally aligning large openings i5 and 22 formed in the respective sides i8 and ii of the cap members. The hollow interior of this casing is denoted at Ma.

A series of these cages is employed in the hollow massaging roller as shown. Before the cap members composing same are placed into interfitted closed relationship as shown in Figure 4 it is designed to insert the spools shown in Figure 2 into them. The spool is inserted into the single cap member first and enclosed in the cage by the action of the other cap member, telescoping over the first cap member. In this manner the spools are removably assembled in the cages.

I design to use a circular or cylindrical resilient unit in each cage. Same is preferably made from a coil spring but could be fabricated of other material such as solid rubber, just as well.

Each circular resilient member consists of a circumferentially extending radially disposed successive series of spring convolutions or cylindrical yieldable coils which stand spoke-like in circular order like a wheel, as is clearlyshown in Figure 5. This produces a peripheral head surface of large outer diameter 35 and a constriated inside central reduced diameter forming a central bearing surface 38.

Each .of these circular springs is caused to frictionally embrace and be seated upon the hub 24 of a spool so that opposite sides of the several coils 36 abut the flanges l6 and I! of the spool while the outer circumference of the circular resilient member engage the inner surface of rim 20 of one of the cage cap members 18. The hub of the spool thus passes through the central open ing or bearing surface 38 of the spring body.

An elongated shaft 25 extends the full length of the cylindrical roller 10, being formed at onposite ends with reduced stubs 21 and 28. The stubs provide annular shoulders 26 and 28 with the stubs 21 and 29, respectively. Tubular handles '29 and 30a respectively fit rotatingly upon the shaftstubs 2! and 29. In one direction these handles are confined in place on the stubs by the annular shoulders 25, 2B. In an opposite direction they are held against displacement from the stub by means of screws '30 which are threaded into the ends of the shaft 25 and have heads 3! overlying both these flat shaft ends and the handles 29a, 30a each.

The cages are set at properly spaced apart points inside of the bore H of the cylinder I0, so their circular surfaces engage and may be cemented and secured together optionally. Two

of the cages are mounted in the opposite ends of the cylinder in such a manner that they effectively close these ends of the cylinder. Thus the sides l8 and 2| of the :cap members of these particular cages serve as the closure members. The flanges of the spools may slide eccentrically against sides l8, ill of each cage. This is what will take place when the circular springs, seated in the circular channel 13a of the spools, are compressed by pressing the shaft 25 against these springs in the act of imparting rotation to the massaging roller.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the circular springs properly center the shaft 25 and hubs l3 of all of the spools in the openings 19, 22 of each separate cageso that the shaft 25 may eccentrically float in these openings. Before pressure is imparted to the roller H! shaft 25 is concentrically disposed in roller l0. By taking hold of handles 29:; and 30a of the shaft and rolling the roller Ill over the human body,

and exerting pressure on the roller, the pressure is assumed directly by the circular springs, thus minimizing the feeling of hardness of a solid roll and obtaining a smoother more efficacious pressure and relaxation thrust of the massaging roller. The outer surface of the roller is covered by a rubber sleeve composed of a longitudinal series of hollow rubber annular bodies 3| with intervening annular grooves 32. These parts furnish additional softness and yieldable tread to the roller and enhance the massaging action thereof. The stems 24 of the hubs of the spools are secured by fasteners 23 to the shaft 25 and confine the cage in place by confining the spools themselves.

What I desire to claim is as follows:

1. A device as described, consisting of a rolling cylinder, a shaft upon which said cylinder rolls, and a plurality of circular coiled springs, arranged peripherally to engage the inner body of said cylinder and providing journal bearings for the shaft to extend through so that the shaft may have a floating disposition in said cylinder, and said cylinder have a floating mounting on said shaft.

2. A device of the kind described consisting of a hollow cylinder, a longitudinally extending shaft projecting therethrough and therebeyond to provide hand holds, and a plurality of cylindrical coiled springs the outer periphery of which support the shell of said cylinder and the inner circumference of which support the shaft which extends therethrough yieldingly.

3. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow cyclinder roller, a series of longitudinally separated circular coiled springs arranged in said cylinder roller with their outer peripheries engaging the inner circumference of the roller, means closing the ends of said rollers, means holding said springs against displacement from said roller, and a shaft extending longitudinally through said roller and passing through the inner circumference of all of said springs yieldably and supportingly, said shaft having eccentric play in said roller.

4. A device as described consisting of an elongated hollow roller, a rubber fluted sleeve encasing the same peripherally, a plurality of circular coiled springs consisting of a spoke-engaged series of radially disposed spring convolutions, said springs being bodily compressible at all points by said roller, and a shaft extending into and out of the opposing ends of said roller and being supported in the inner circumference of said springs floatingly, the projecting ends of said shaft forming hand grips.

5. A device of the class described consisting of a hollow longitudinal roller cylinder, a rubber sleeve encaslng the outer periphery of said roller, being formed with a plurality of longitudinally separated annular flutes, a shaft extending longitudinally through said hollow roller and having its opposite ends projecting therebeyond, a series of longitudinally spaced apart circular springs having each a circular series of convolutions arranged to provide a circular inner opening, through which said shaft projects and in which it is journaled to provide a floating axis of rotation for said roller cylinder.

6. A device as described consisting of an elongated roller cylinder having a rubber sleeve fixed upon its periphery, a plurality of cylindrical cages arranged inside of said cylinder and having eccentrically guided spools therein, with censaunas.

cages so as to engage the innerclrcumference of said cylinder and be confined around said spools, and a shaft passing into the sleeves-of said spools and forming an axis of'rotation for said cylinder.

7. A device of the kind described consisting of a, hollow cylinder having arulbber periphery, plurality of longitudinally spaced apart cages arranged in said hollow cylinder, held against longitudinal separation therein, anv 'eccentrically grinded spool in each cage having a central hub, a circular coiled spring journaled around the hub of each spool so as to be confined in the cage therefor with its outer periphery engaging the inner circumference of said hollow cylinder and a longitudinally extending shaft projecting into the hubs of all of said spools and extending beyond the ends of said cylinder to provide hand rolls.

8. A device of the kind described consisting of a hollow roller of cylindrical formation, a rubber periphery on said hollow roller, a series of an.- nular formation, a rubber periphery on said hollow roller, a series of annular cages confinedly positioned inside of the hollow roller, having central openings, spools slidably arranged concentrically in said cages and having hubs loosely projecting through the openings in said cages, a series of circular coiled springs journaled upon said several spools with their outer peripheries engaging the inner circumference of said hollow roller, being confined in said spools, a shaft extending through said roller longitudinally and passing through the hubs of all of said spools so as to be centered in said roller floatingly, and handles rollable with said shaft carried by the outer ends of the latter.

9. A device of the kind described consisting of a longitudinal cylinder, a plurality of cylindrical cages having their peripheries attached to the inner circumference of said cylinder, and having oppositely arranged central openings, spools havopposing flanges slidably mounted in said cages confinedly, and having each a. hub projecting through one opening of a cage, a circular resilient body in each cage consisting of a radial series of cylindrical coils forming a circular outer and a circular reduced inner bearing surface, a shaft passing through the opposite openings of all of said cages into the hubs of said spools and into the circular inner bearing surfaces of said resilient bodies and having its ends projecting beyond the ends of the cylinder, a handle rolling with said shaft attached to the projecting ends of the latter.

10. A device as described consisting of a cylinder, 2, rubber covering for said. cylinder, a series of circular resilient bodies arranged in said cylinder formed entirely of spring coils, a shaft for said cylinder to roll on passing through the ends of said cylinder, and extending through the central openings of circular resilient bodies to float yieldingly thereon, housings eccentrically movable in said cylinder containing said resilient bodies, and operating handles for said shaft carried by the projecting ends thereof.

11. A device as described consisting of an elongated shaft, having reduced stubs at the opposite ends thereof, a series of fixed longitudinally spaced apart annular resilient bodies arranged concentrically around and in contact with said shaft, and consisting entirely of a radial series of spring coils disposed concentrically of said shaft, means enclosing said resilient bodies but permitting contraction and relaxation of the latter. about said shaft,- massa'glng means having a;

reliable relation around the outer-peripheries:

of said annular resilient bodies, and rollable han-'- dlesnn said shaftstuhs.

12. A device of the lrind described consisting of an 'elongated shaft, a series of longitudinally separated annular resilient bodies embracing said shaft fri-ctionally to provide outer cylindricaly'ieldable tread surfaces composed entirely ofradial'ly' disposed" spring coils extending like bodies so as to move eccentrically upon said shaft o viding annular shoulders, rollable handles'jourto compress said resilient bodies retractably.

13. A device of the kind described consisting of an elongated shaft having terminal reduced stubs, a series of annular cages, each consisting of laterally telescoping cap sections having registering overlapping peripheral rims confined by the sides of said caps retractably, the sides of said cage having centrally aligned openings, said cages surrounding said shaft which loosely projects through the openings thereof, similar resilient bodies journaled around said shaft engaging frictionally the opposite sides of the cage and having outer circular yieldable tread surfaces peripherally engaging the inner circumference of said cages to thereby concentrically center the shaft in the openings of said cage depressingly, said resilient bodies when depressed moving one telescoping cap of each cage in the other one and massaging roller encasing rollably all of said cages, and handles rotatingly journaled on the stub of said shaft.

14. A device as described consisting of a shaft having reduced stubs at opposite ends thereof prona'led on said stubs and confined by said shoulders thereon rotatably, means engaging said handles and said stubs to hold the handles against displacement from said stubs, a hollow cylinder around said shaft, annular resilient bodies supporting said cylinder yieldably therearound peripherally, said shaft passing through all of said annular resilient bodies supportingly and yieldably and means engaging said resilient bodies and said shaft for positioning said cylinder between the stubs of said shaft normally but so that under compression of said resilient bodies by said shaft said cylinder may ride over either.

handle.

15. As a new article of manufacture a cage consisting of a pair of snugly interfitted telescoping cap members having overlapping registry, but separatable rims with centrally aligned large openings upon the opposing parallel sides of the cap members, a spool having a sleeve hub of lesser diameter than said openings, extending into the latter with opposing side flanges slidably engaging the sides of said cap members, and a circular shaped resilient body providing a central bearing opening into which frictionally extends the hollow hub of the spool and against opposite sides of which the flanges of said spool bear.

16. In a device of the kind described, a cylindrical shell, a cage concentrically fitted'snugly therein and composed of telescoping caps having surmounted rims and opposing sides for closing in said cage with aligning central large openings in said cap sides, a spool having a hollow hub which at one end projects laterally thereof to provide a. stem, the opposite flanges of such spool slid-,-

ably engaging the sides of the cage, in a manner to close the openings in the latter, a shaft passing snugly through the hub of the spool and terminating laterally of said cage in reduced stubs, handles rollably mounted on said stubs, operatively, being of a. diameter less than the cage openings, a. circular essentially yieldable resilient body seated around and upon the spool hub with its sides tangentially engaging the flanges of said spool, and its periphery engaging the inner circumference of said cage, and a. screw securing the stem of the spool hub upon said shaft, being spaced laterally from said cage.

LOUIS J. DIRAND.

REFERENCES CITED Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Nov. 1, 1929 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1928 

